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Cheesman Reservoir: First in the mountains
The century-old workhorse, more than 6,800 feet up on the South Platte River, provides reliable water supplies for downstream communities.
Named for water pioneer Walter S. Cheesman, the dam was once the world’s tallest at 221 feet above the streambed when completed in 1905. The reservoir and related facilities were purchased in November 1918 by the Denver Water Board. Cheesman was the first reservoir of Denver's mountain storage facilities and has been designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Learn about recreation at Cheesman Reservoir.